Apparatus for feeding coils of material to an uncoiler



July 27, 1965 F. UNGERER 3,197,017

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING COILS OF MATERIAL TO AN UNCOILER Filed Sept. 3, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 1 F. UNGERER July 27, 1965 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING COILS OF MATERIAL TO AN UNCOILER Filed Sept. 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a a July 27, 1965 F. UNGERER 3,197,017

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING cons OF MATERIAL TO AN UNCOILER Filed Sept. 3, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,197,017 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING COILS 0F MATERIAL TO AN UNCGILER Fritz Ungerer, Arlingerstrasse 6, Pforzheim, Germany Filed Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 396,153 Claims. (Cl. 198-126) This invention relates to apparatus for feeding coils to an uncoiler. Apparatus for slitting strips comprises at the inlet end a so-called coil feeder, which in most cases is in the form of an inclined ramp, on which the coils can roll down while some coils are held in reserve by hinged stops. When the hinged stop is released, these coils advance forwardly under the action of gravity and are fed to the uncoiler. In some apparatus of this kind, the ramp is disposed along the center line of the plant and leads into a trough, which is centrally disposed with respect to the uncoiler. In the trough, the coil is lifted until it is at the center of the am's of the uncoiler. Where so-called double-ended uncoilers are used, side frames with stub shafts, which carry cones supporting the coil at its inside diameter, are moved on both sides in unison with the coil. This provision of two cones has the disadvantage that irregularly wound coils, in which some internal convolutions have been laterally displaced, will be expanded on the outside so that the strip must be rejected.

It is also known to use so-called expanding uncoilers, the drum of which consists of a plurality of parts, which are forced outwardly against the inside of the coil. Whereas this does not result in an expansion of laterally displaced inner convolutions as in the case of the double cone uncoiler described hereinbefore, the inner convolutions may easily be axially displacedbecause they rub at a point of the expanding drum when the same is being introduced unless the coil is sufficiently concentric with respect to the expanding drum. This system has the further disadvantage that the feeding ramp must be laterally disposed with respect to the center line of the entire installation, irrespective of the width of the strip. The coils also enter in this arrangement a lifting trough, which is carried by a coil car. This lifting trough moves the coil to the proper level with respect to the expanding drum. Then the coil car moves transversely into the path of the strip to push the coil onto the expanding drum, which is then expanded. Thereafter, the lifting trough descends to release the coil. Subsequently, the coil car moves transversely out of the path of the strip and is arrested for receiving the next coil. This arrangement is complicated and, as has been mentioned'hereinbefore, does not always operate without trouble.

The described disadvantages of the known systems are eliminated by the method of feeding coils according to the invention. This method is characterized by the use of a chain conveyor having pairs of spaced apart saddles for carrying the coils, which are conveyed each to the center of the uncoiler, whereafter the chain conveyor is lifted to move the coil to the center of the uncoiler so that the inside diameter of the coil and the outside diameter of the expanding or other reel are substantially concentric. Subsequently the coil is engaged by the reel and the chain conveyor is lowered. Before and/ or while the oncoming coil is lifted to the uncoiler, the coil is embraced by a fork having prongs which include at least a right angle, said fork moving angularly to a horizontal position. This fork cooperates with a contact to stop the lifting operation preferably when the fork is in a horizontal position so that a levelling of the centers of the coil and reel is automatically obtained, whereafter the two reels move inwardly. This adjustment is suflicient if the coils are vertically lifted, as will be described hereinafter. The vertical alignment of the centers of the coil and of the uncoiler can 3 ,197 ,dl 7 Patented July 27, 1965 be ensured by a-conveyor stop. The coils may also be lifted along an arcuate'path by a pivotal movement. In this case, it is additionally necessary to provide a further fork also having prongs which include at least a right angle, said further fork embracing the coil fed by the chain conveyor before and/or after the lifting of the coil to the uncoiler. As the coil continues its feeding movement, this further fork moves angularly toward a vertical position and cooperates with a contact to stop the feeding movement preferably in a vertical position of the further fork so that a vertical alignment of the centers of the coil and reel is automatically obtained.

In the feeding apparatus according to the invention, a double-ended reel may be used, which comprises two side frames, which can be moved toward each other, or a single, large reel may be employed which can be moved into the path of the coil and must be moved throughout the width of the coil. In the case of a double-ended reel, the drum section may be adjusted tothe smallest width of the strip. In this case, the end discs of the expanding drum sections can serve as stops for limiting the inward movement. In the feeding apparatus according to the invention, the coil does not perform any movement because its movement to the final position is effected by the conveyor chains without any rotation, re-lifting or lowering of the coil. In the final position, the coil is received by the expanding reel or double-cone reel or expanding double-cone reel. Hence, the coil is not dented or creased as was the case previously, when the coil was rolled on supports, which resulted in detrimental effects particularly on the first convolutions of soft strip, and in dents-and creases even in hard strip material unless it is very tightly Wound; such dents and creases are then apparent in several convolutions toward the interior of the coil.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing a first chain conveyor installation for carrying out parallel lifting of the chain conveyor.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing a second chain conveyor installation for an arcuate lifting movement of the chain conveyor.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic elevation views showing the fork arrangement according to the invention and FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing an expanding reel arrangement.

FIG. 1 shows a chain conveyor 1 having carrying saddles or saddle blocks 2, which serve for supporting the coils 3 and for feeding them to the uncoiler. In this arrangement a parallel lifting and lowering movement of the chain conveyor is effected at its charging end 4 and at its delivery end 5 by means of pistons 6, which may be electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated. This is illustrated in the drawing and serves for aligning the respective coil 3 with the center of the uncoiler, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 2 shows a chain conveyor 7 having carrying saddles or saddle blocks 8, which serve also for supporting and feeding the coils 9 to the uncoiler. In this arrangement the chain conveyor 7 is pivotally lifted and lowered at its delivery end 10 by pistons 11, which are electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated, to align the respective coil 9 with the center of the uncoiler, as will be described more in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. To avoid damage to the coils, the carrying saddles may comprise pads of plastic or sand sacks, which will readily adapt themselves to the outside diameter of the coils and afford a contact surface, which will avoid damage as far as possible.

In the embodiments shown by way of example in FIGS.

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1 and 2, the coil 3 and 9 arriving on the carrying saddles 2 or 8 provided on both sides of the chain conveyor is embraced in its desired position by a fork 13 before and/ or during the lifting of the coil to the uncoiler 12 shown in FIG. 5. This fork is carried by an arm 14, which is angularly movably mounted at 15 and can be angularly moved to a horizontal position. The arm 14 cooperates with a contact 16 to terminate the lifting operation when the arm is in a horizontal position in the embodiment shown so that a horizontal alignment of the centers of the coil 3 or 9 and the uncoiler 12 is automatically obtained. This is sufiicient if both ends of the chains are lifted in parallel because the vertical alignment with the center line of the reel can be obtained in a simple manner in this case by adjusting the length of the incremental movement of the conveyor chain 7 so that the same is stopped when the point disposed midway between two associated carrying saddles 8 is in vertical alignment with the center line of the reel. If the chain conveyor is pivotally lifted, as is shown in FIG. 2, a second fork 17 is provided, which is carried by an arm 18 which is angularly movably mounted at 19 for movement to a vertical position, in which the arm cooperates with a contact 20 to terminate the feeding movement when the center of the coil has reached the vertical center. The connections indicated at 15 and 19 between the angularly movable arms 14 and 18 of the forks 13 and 17 and their mounting brackets comprise a slot extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the respective arm 14 or 18 and a pin engaging this slot. The arms 14 and 18 are under the action of a relatively slight, resilient force exerted, e.g., by spring means or pneumatic means and tending to urge the arms towards the coil 3 or 9. The arms 14 and 18 may be pivotally mounted if they are telescopic andtheir forward portions are urged towards the coils by spring means or pneumatic means. As a result, the coils 3 or 9 are protected to a high degree because they need not roll and for this reason will not be dented orcreased. The coil is aligned with the center of the uncoiler without rolling and without any non-translatory movement and in the desired position is gripped by a double cone or an expandingreel.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for feeding a coil along a predetermined path to a predetermined position, in which the axis of said coil coincides with a predetermined horizontal axis, said apparatus comprising a support adapted to engage the underside of said coil at two horizontally spaced points with said coil in a position in which said axis of said coil is horizontally spaced from said predetermined axis, feeding means energizable to move said support with said coil substantially horizontally to a position, in which the axis of said coil is at least approximately vertically aligned with and spaced below said predetermined axis,'lifting means energizable to lift said support to move said coil to said predetermined position, engaging means arranged to engage said coil at two vertically spaced points of its outside periphery during the lifting of said support and to follow said coil in engagement therewith during said lifting of said support and lift control means arranged to cooperate with said engaging means and to deenergize said lifting means when said engaging means has reached a predetermined level associated with said axis of said coil reaching the level of said predetermined axis.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said support consists of spaced apart saddle members and said feeding means comprises a substantially horizontal chain conveyor carrying said saddle members.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said ate with said engaging means to control the energization of said lifting means.

.5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said engaging means comprises an arm mounted to perform an angular movement during said lifting of said support when said coil is engaged with said engaging means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said engaging means is arranged initially to engage said coil below its axis with said arm in an inclined position and radially aligned with said axis of said coil, and said arm is arranged to cooperate with said lift control means to deenergize said lifting means when said arm has reached a horizontal position.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said engaging means comprise a fork having two prongs for engagement with said coil, said prongs having an included angle of at least 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said lifting means is energizable to lift said support along an arcuate path and which comprisesfurther engaging means arranged to engage said coil at two horizontally spaced points of its outside periphery during said substantially horizontal movement of said support and to follow said coil in engagement therewith during said substantially horizontal movement of said support, and feed control means arranged to cooperate with said further engaging means and to deenergize said feeding means when said further engaging means has reached a predetermined position associated with the vertical alignment of said axis of said coil with said predetermined axis.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which said support consists of spaced apart saddle members and said feeding means comprises a substantially horizontal chain conveyor carrying said saddle members, lift control means arranged to cooperate with said engaging means and to deenergize said lifting means when said engaging means has reached a predetermined level associated with said axis of said coil reaching the level of said predetermined axis, said lifting means comprising means for pivotally lifting one end of said conveyor.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which said conveyor has a charging end, where the conveyor is pivotally mounted, and a delivery end disposed adjacent to and belowv said predetermined axis and said lifting means comprises means for pivotally lifting said delivery end about said charging end.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which said feed control means comprises a contact adapted to cooperate with said further engaging means to control the energization of said feeding means.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which said further engaging means comprises an arm mounted to perform an angular movement during said substantially horizontal movement of said support when said coil is engaged with said further engaging means.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, in which said further engaging means is arranged initially to engage said coil before its axis with-said arm in an inclined position and radially aligned with said axis of said coil, and said arm is arranged to cooperate with said feed control means to deenergize said feeding means when said arm has reached a vertical position.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which said further engaging means comprise a fork having two prongs for engagement with said coil, said prongs having an included angle of at least 90.

15. In combination with an uncoiler having a reel mounted for rotation on a predetermined horizontal axis, feeding apparatus comprising a support adapted to engage the underside of said coil at two horizontally spaced points with said coil in a position in which said axis of said coil is horizontally spaced from said predetermined axis, feeding means energizable to move said support with said coil substantially horizontally to a position, in which the axis of said coil is at least approximately vertically aligned with and spaced below said predetermined axis, lifting means energizable to lift said support to move said coil to said predetermined position, and adapted to lower said support from said predetermined axis, engaging means arranged to engage said coil at two vertically spaced points of its outside periphery during the lifting of said support and to follow said coil in engagement therewith during 5 said lifting of said support, said lift control means arranged to cooperate with said engaging means and to deenergize said lifting means when said engaging means has reached a predetermined level associated with said axis Broadmeyer 242--58.6 Benjamin 242-585 Russell 24278.6 Erhardt 24258.6 Spangler 24278.8 X

of said coil reaching the level of said predetermined axis. 10 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A COIL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION, IN WHICH THE AXIS OF SAID COIL COINCIDES WITH A PREDETERMINED HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID COIL AT TWO HORIZONTALLY SPACED POINTS WITH SAID COIL IN A POSITION IN WHICH SAID AXIS OF SAID COIL IS HORIZONTALLY SPACED FROM SAID PREDETERMINED AXIS FEEDING MEANS ENERGIZABLE TO MOVE SAID SUPPORT WITH SAID COIL SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY TO A POSITION, IN WHICH THE AXIS OF SAID COIL IS AT LEAST APPROCIMATELY VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH AND SPACED BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED AXIS, LIFTING MEANS ENERGIZABLE TO LIFT SAID SUPPORT TO MOVE SAID COIL TO SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION, ENGAGEING MEANS ARRANGED TO ENGAGE SAID COIL AT TWO VERTICALLY SPACED POINTS OF ITS OUTSIDE PERIPHERY DURING THE LIFTING OF SAID SUPPORT AND TO FOLLOW SAID COIL IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH DURING SAID LIFTING OF SAID SUPPORT AND LIFT CONTROL MEANS ARRANGED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID ENGAGING MEANS AND TO DEENERGIZE SAID LIFTING MEANS WHEN SAID ENGAGING MEANS HAS REACHED A PREDETERMINED LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH SAID AXIS OF SAID COIL REACHING THE LEVEL OF SAID PREDETERMINED AXIS. 